Tile furnace



E. BLAHA TILE FURNACE Nov. 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2'?,` 1947 LAI-1A INVENTOR EMIL B BY /Zl X ATTORNEY Nov. 21, 1950 E. BLAHA 2,530,595

47 INVENTOR EMIL BLAHA ATTORNEY Nov; 21, 1950 E, BLAHA 2,530,595

TILE FURNACE Filed Aug. 27, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR EMIL BLAHA BY SMM ATTO R N EY E. BLAHA TILE FURNACE Nov. 2l, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 27, 1947 lNvEN-roR EMIL BLAHA ATTORNEY @D iilil Patented Nov. 2l, 1950 TILE FURNACE Emil Blaha, Cheltenham, Pa., assignor to Selas Corporation of America, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation oi' Pennsylvania Application August 27, 1947, Serial No. 770,839

Claims. (Cl. 785-142) The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for the production of tile such as ordinary bathroom floor and wall tile, and analogous articles of ceramic material, and for use in enamelling metallic tile and in heating tile and analogous objects to temperatures substantially lower than those required for the production of ceramic tiles.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for firing bodies of ceramic material pressed into tile shape by passing them through a continuous kiln or kilns without the use of saggers or manual handling, and without the use of kiln cars or analogous tile handling and transporting apparatus which must be periodically moved into and out of the kiln heating space with resultant heat losses.

In the production of ceramic tile by the use of a preferred form of the invention, the tiles are heated up from atmospheric temperature to a temperature of l200 F. or so while moving in one direction through an elongated preheating kiln chamber, in heat transfer relation with tiles moving through the chamber in the opposite direction and entering the chamber at a temperature of 1400" F. or so from a. high temperature kiln chamber. The latter is of the rotary hearth type and is located at the end of the preheating kiln toward which the tiles being preheated are moved. The preheated tiles are transferred from the preheating kiln to the high temperature rotary hearth kiln. In the latter, the tiles are heated up to a temperature of 20002400 F., and are then cooled down to an exit temperature of 1400o F. or so, before their return to the low temperature kiln chamber.

In the preferred form of apparatus disclosed, the preheating kiln is a tunnel kiln of the walking beam type having separate Walking beams for progressively moving the two tile streams in opposite directions through the kiln chamber, and the high temperature kiln is a circular kiln through which the tiles are moved by a supporting turntable.

In each of the kiln chambers, the tiles are individually supported on a plurality of vertical racks distributed along the length of the goods' pathway and are spaced apart by finger-like portions oi supporting elements so that the superposed row of tiles in each stack are spaced apart vertically to permit the envelopment and exposure of both the under and upper sides of each tile to the heating chamber atmosphere and also to permit the individual tiles in the stack to be separately engaged by the supporting fingers of the tile handling apparatus comprising a plurality of such lingers at different levels simultaneously to engage and disengage the undersides of the vertically spaced apart tiles in the stack.

In the preferred form of the low temperature heating chamber, each of the two streams of tiles moving through the chamber in opposite directions are given intermittent movements longitudinally of the kiln by separate side by side walking beams, each of which is provided with a plurality of tile supporting devices each having iingers for engaging the underside of each of the tiles in a single stack and thus lifting the tiles off the supporting fingers of a series of stationary tile supporting devices.

In the preferred form of apparatus shown, the tiles are moved through the circular heating chamber by supporting devices comprising columns or posts extending upwardly through a slot in the bottom wall of the chamber from the subjacent turntable and within the chamber each post is provided with a series of tile supporting fingers at successively higher levels. The tiles maybe transferred from the heating up walking beam in the low temperature chamber to the turntable carried supports in the high temperature chamber by a transfer mechanism comprising supporting elements given both vertical movements and rotative movements about a vertical axis, and the tiles may be transferred to the cooling oi Walking beam from the high temperature chamber by a similar transfer mechanism.

Alternatively, the tiles may be heated up and cooled down in a single elongated twin kiln heating chamber through which each of two streams of tiles is moved in opposite directions along side by side heat transfer paths with means for supplying heat to the central portion of the kiln. In the operation of such a kiln, the tiles in each of the streams moving in opposite directions to the kiln chamber is heated up in an entrance portion of its path of movement and is cooled down to a suitable exit temperature in an exit portion of its path and is heated to the maximum temperature required in the central portion of its path of movement. In such a twin kiln, the supporting elements may be formed of metal in the end portions of the kiln chamber and of nonmetallic refractory material in the central portion of the kiln chamber.

The invention is also well adapted for use in the production of enamelled metallic wall tiles and analogous articles by moving them successively by one walking beam in one direction through an elongated straight furnace chamber and then moving them :In the opposite direction back to the end of the chamber by which they entered by a second walking beam, and in supplying heat to the furnace chamber at and adjacent its second end, to the enamelling temperature of 1400 F. to 1600 F., or so. In such a furnace the tile supporting devices may be exactly like those employed in the low temperature heating chamber first described, and in addition, a suitable transfer mechanism at the high temperature end of the furnace for transferring tiles from the walking beam moving the tiles toward that end of the furnace to the walking beam after moving the tiles away from that end of the furnace.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out` with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages, and specic objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view taken on line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the walking beam mechanism taken generally on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4 to 7 are views showing the operation of the walking beam mechanism;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the transfer mechanism;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a plan view partly in section showing the invention used in a different type of kiln; and

Figure 11 is a plan view of the return or turntable mechanism used with the kiln 'of Figure 10.

In Figure 1, there is shown a plan view of the apparatus which includes an elongated tunnel kiln portion 3 including side walls and floor 4 of suitable refractory material to stand the heat to which the kiln is subjected. The sides and oor along with a roof 8 form a kiln chamber 5. As is usual in constructions of this type, metal sheathing 6 is used to hold the bricks of which the sides and roof are made in place and the entire kiln is mounted on' supports 1. Located within the kiln chamber are a pair of walking beams, one indicated at I3 for feeding in tile to be red, and the other indicated at I4 for feeding the tile out after it has been red. It will be seen that the tile moving into the kiln will be heated by the tiles that are moving out so that this kiln chamber 5 serves a dual purpose of preheating the tiles going into the ring zone and cooling those that are moving from the ring zone. The ring zone consists of a high temperature rotary kiln portion 9, which has side walls and roof indicated at II that are alsomade of some suitable high temperature refractory which will withstand the heat to which it is subjected. The walls I I form a chamber I2 in which is located a rotating mechanism indicated generally at I5 upon which the tiles are placed and moved in a clockwise direction from an entrance to an exit opening as they are being fired. A mechanism I6 is provided to transfer the tiles from the kiln chamber 5 to the high temperature kiln chamber I2 and a second transfer mechanism I1 is used to transfer the tiles from the ring zone in the high temperature chamber to the cooling and preheating zone in chamber 5.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the kiln chamber 5 is provided with a. number of center posts I8 that are anchored in the roof and in the iloor of the chamber. These posts are provided with horizontally extending supporting fingers I9 that are attached to the posts I8 and project from each side thereof. As shown in the drawing, there are six of these horizontally extending fingers on each post, but it will be understood that any number may be used, depending upon the size of the kiln chamber. Also extending into the kiln chamber and forming part of the walking beam mechanism I3 are rods 2U upon which are mounted rack supports 2l, each of which has three supporting pins 22 extending to the left therefrom. There are also provided rods 23 forming part of the other walking beam mechanism I4 which has racks 24 attached to it each of which is provided with three supporting pins 25 extending to the right. The rods 2li and 23 are supported respectively by beams 26 and 21 which extend the full length of the kiln and are located below the floor thereof. In order to permit rods 20 and 23 to move vertically and horizontally these rods extend through elongated openings 28 and 29 in the floor of the kiln.

The beams 26 and 21 are moved to give in sequence the conventional four movements of a walking beam system. To this end, the rods 2i and 23 are moved upwardly, horizontally in one direction, downwardly, horizontally in the other direction and upwardly again so that the tiles mounted on the supporting pins which project from the rods are moved progressively through the kiln chamber. As both of the walking beam mechanisms are similar, mechanism I3 for feeding the tile to the firing zone will be described. The vertical movements are accomplished by mechanism including an elevator beam 3| having rollers 32 mounted in bearings 33 thereon upon which beam 26 rests. The member 3| is supported on upper links 34 which are pivoted to lower links 35 by a pin 38 extending between these links, as is best shown in Figure 2. The lower links 35 are pivoted at their lower ends in brackets 31, so that in conjunction with the upper links a toggle mechanism is formed. Changing the angular relation between links 34 and 35 serves to raise and lower the member 3I carried thereby. This is done by means of horizontal bar 38 that has one end attached to pivot pin 36 and its other end pivoted to the upper end of a lever 39 which is in turn pivoted at 4I to portions of the bracketes 31. Lever 39 is moved around its pivot 4I by means of a connecting link 43, attached at one end thereto and at its other end to a piston rod 44. This piston rod is fastened to a piston 45 that is located in a cylinder 46. It is noted that a number of the toggle links 34 and 35 may be used to support member 3I and that motion is imparted simultaneously to each of the levers 39 by means of connecting links 41 extending between the lower ends of these levers.

Beam 26 is moved horizontally by a link 48 which extends between that beam and one end of piston rod 49 to the other end of which is attached a piston 5I that moves in a cylinder 52.

'I'he beam 21 forming part of mechanism I4 is moved vertically and horizontally by mechanism similar to that that has been described except that the rods 23 attached to it are in their lower positions while the rods 28 attached to beam 25 are in their upper position. This is accomplished by having piston 45 of that mechanism in the opposite end of cylinder 46 from the position shown in the drawing for mechanism I3.

The operation of the walking beam mechanisms is described in connection with Figures 4 to 1. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 4, the supporting pins 22 are below the supporting fingers I9 and a tile T is resting on fingers I9. A suitable fluid, such as oil, is admitted to the right end of cylinder 45 in Figure 3 to move the piston in that cylinder to the left. This motion straightens out toggle links 34 and 35 so that rods 28 carrying supporting pins 22 are raised. In this fashion the supporting pins 22 move between fingers I 9 to raise the tile T to the position shown in Figure 5. Fluid is then admitted to the right end of cylinder 52 to move piston 5I and the parts attached thereto to the left so that the tile is moved to a position above other of the supporting ilngers I9 as shown in Figure 6. Liquid is then supplied to the left end of cylinder 45 moving piston 45 to the right to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, thereby lowering the supporting pins 22 from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure '1. During this movement supporting pins 22 move downwardly between fingers I9 and place the tile upon these fingers. Liquid is then forced into the left end of cylinder 52 to move piston 5I and the parts attached thereto to the right so that they will return to the position shown in Figure 4. Thus by properly admitting iiuid to the one end or the other of cylinders 46 and 52, the tiles are progressively moved through the furnace from the feeding end toward the transfer mechanism I where they are placed in the firing zoneportion of the kiln. The action of the walking beam I4 is exactly the same as that described in connection with walking beam I3, except that the position of piston 45 in cylinder 46 is reversed. In each case the beams 28 and 21 are moved simultaneously and in the same horizontal direction and when rods and the supporting pins 22 carried thereby are raised, rods 23 and supporting pins 25 carried thereby will be lowered so that the tiles carried by the walking beam structure |4 will be moved away from the rotary hearth section of the kiln or to the right in Figure l of the drawings.

The mechanism in the rotary hearth portion 9 of the kiln is used to move the tiles in a clockwise direction in Figures 1 and 8 through the firing zone. To this end there is provided a plurality of racks 53 each of which has ngers '54 projecting outwardly from it upon which individual tiles are supported. Six of these supports are mounted on each post 55 at levels corresponding to the levels of the fingers I9 in the tunnel portion 5 of the kiln. The posts 55 and the supports carried by them are moved in a clockwise direction in Figures l and 8 in any desired conventional manner in steps corresponding to the steps of movement of the tiles through the tunnel portion of the kiln.

Heat is supplied to the chamber I5 in this section by any suitable type of burner to fire the tiles. As herein disclosed burners 5B take the form of those burners shown in Hess Patent No. 2,215,079, because burners of this type are particularly adapted to -a kiln of this sort. The burners of the Hess patent are supplied with a combustible mixture of air and gas which is burned to complete combustion in the cups of the burners so that the walls of these cups are heated to incandescence. Radiant heat is supplied from these cups to the material passing in front of them and a portion of the heat of the furnace is supplied by the gases of combustion. 'I'he burners are located at suitably spaced points around both the inside and outside walls of the chamber I5 so that the proper firing is obtained as tiles travel through this chamber.

'Ihe burners are supplied with fuel through suitable manifolds with a valve individual to each burner between it and the manifold. One arrangement of manifolds is shown in the drawing, although other arrangements may be used if desired.

The transfer mechanisms I 6 and I1 are provided to move the tiles from the tunnel or preheating and cooling portion of the kiln to the rotary or firing portion of the kiln and back again. The mechanism I6 will be described in detail since the mechanism I1 is identical to it, except that the transfer mechanism I1 is in its lower position while the transfer mechanism I5 is in its upper position. This corresponds to the difference between the walking beam mechanisms I3 and I4; when one of these is in its lower position, the other vis in its upper position.

'I'he transfer mechanism is shown in Figures 8 and 9, includes a shaft 51 which is suitably pivoted in bearings 58 and 59 and is moved through an arc of approximately in these bearings by means of a rod 8| that is attached at one end to shaft 51 by a collar 62 and at its other end to one end of a piston rod 83 that has a piston 54 fastened to it. This piston slides in a cylinder 'B5 that is in turn pivoted at 88. As fluid is introduced into one end or the other of this cylinder, shaft 51 will be moved through an arc which is limited by stops 61.

Shaft 51 has a frame mounted upon it that will turn with the shaft but may move in a vertical direction. The frame includes supporting members 58 and 69 that are slidably mounted on the shaft and project therefrom in a horizontal direction. There is also provided a cylinder 1I that is similarlyy mounted on the shaft and projects in a similar direction.` These threeparts are joined together and held in proper spaced relation by a brace 12. The members 58 and 89 are surrounded by sleeves 13 and 14, respectively, which have plates 1'5 and 18 attached to their outer ends. Extending in a vertical direction between and attached to these plates are three rods 11, each of which has mounted upon it supporting pins 18 that are located one above the other as is best shown in Figure 9. The plates, rods, and fingers are moved away from and toward the shaft 51 by means of a piston rod 19 that is attached to the middle shaft 51 by a collar 8| and which has on its other end a piston 82 that is received in cylinder 1I. The entire frame is moved in a vertical direction by means of a piston rod 83, the lower end of which is attached to a projection extending to the left from cylinder 1I and the upper end of which has a piston 84 that is received by a cylinder 85. This cylinder is rigidly mounted on shaft 51 by brackets 88. The vertical motion of the frame is limited by stops 81 and 88 that project outwardly from the shaft 51. The entire mechanism may, if desired, be surrounded by a shield 89 of any suitable material that extends between the outer wall II of the rotary portion of the kiln and the wall 4'of the tunnel portion of the kiln.

In the operation of the transfer mechanism, with the parts in the position shown in Figures 8 and 9I liquid will be introduced to the lower portion of the cylinder 85 to raise the frame. When this takes place, pins 18 will lift tiles from supporting fingers I8. Liquid will then be admitted to the upper end of cylinder 65 so that shaft 51 and the parts carried thereby will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction to the position indicated in dotted lines shown in Figure 8 of the drawing.

Liquid will then be admitted to the inner end of cylinder 'Il to force the piston 82, piston rod 19 and the parts attached thereto outwardly so that the tiles carried by pins 18 will be in a position above supports 53 in the hearth. Liquid will then be admitted to the upper end of cylinder 85 to lower the framework and deposit the tiles on fingers 54 of supports 53. The entire framework will then be moved away from supports 53 by forcing liquid into the outer end of cylinder 1I and the framework will be moved in a clockwise direction by forcing liquid into the lower end of piston 65 to bring the parts back to the position shown in full lines of Figure 8 of the drawing.

Transfer mechanism Il is operated in exactly the same manner and simultaneously with transfer mechanism I6 except that liquid will be admitted to the upper end of cylinder 85 of transfer mechanism I1 when it is being admitted to the lower end of cylinder 85 of transfer mechanism I6 and vice versa.

From the above it will be seen that the walking beam mechanism is used to move tiles through the tunnel kiln toward chamber I in the firing zone of the kiln and a transfer mechanism is used to move these tiles into the rotary firing zone. A similar transfer mechanism is used to move the tiles out of the firing zone and to place them again on fingers I9 where the other walking beam mechanism will move the tiles back through chamber 5. The complete sequence of operation of these parts will now be described.

In crder for the mechanism of the kiln to function properly the operation of lthe walking beam mechanisms must be synchronized with that of the transfer mechanisms as well as that of the mechanism which is used to move rods 55 through the firing zone. This may be easily done in any conventional manner such as, for example, by controlling the iiow of fluid to the opposite ends of the various cylinders by the use of solenoid valves in the fluid lines, and energizing these valves in a predetermined sequence. It is sufcient for the purposes of the description to relate the movements of the various parts that take place at the same time, and how these movemens are accomplished.

With the parts positioned as shown in the drawings:

First, liquid will be forced into the right end of cylinder 45 of mechanism I3 to raise rods 20 and lift a tile lby pins 22, and liquid will be admitted to the left end of cylinder 45 of mechanism I4 to lower rods 23 to place a tile on the fingers I9 from pins 25. At the same time liquid will be admitted to the lower end of cylinder 85 of mechanism I6 to lift a tile by the transfer pins 18, and liquid will be admitted to the upper end of cylinder 85 of mechanism I 'I to place a tile on supporting fingers I9.

Second, liquid will be admitted to the vright ends of cylinders 52 of mechanisms I3 and I4 to move pins 22 of mechanism I3 to transfer tiles toward the firing zone and to move the pins 2l of mechanism I4 to a position to pick up anotherI tile. At the same time liquid will be admitted to the upper ends (Figure 8) of cylinders 55 to swing the frames carrying transfer pins 18 of mechanism I8 toward the firing zone with a new tile and to swing the supports of mechanism I1 toward the firing zone to pick up a tile.

Third, liquid is admitted to the inner end of both cylinders 1I to move the frames of both mechanisms I 6 and I1 so that pins 18 of these mechanisms will be in a position above or below, respectively, fingers 54 of racks 53.

Fourth, liquid is admitted to the opposite ends of cylinders 45 from that in the first operation so that rods 20 will be lowered to place the 'tiles carried on pins 22 on fingers I9 and rods 23 will be raised to lift tiles from the right fingers IS in Figure 2 on pins 25. Simultaneously liquid will be admitted to the upper end of cylinder of mechanism I6 to lower the frame of this mechanism and place tiles on fingers 54 of supports 53 while the frame of mechanism I1 is being raised to lift tiles from supports 53 on the exit side of the ring zone onto the pins 18 of the transfer mechanism.

Fifth, liquid is admitted to the outer ends of cylinders 'II of both mechanisms I6 and Il to retract the frames of those mechanisms to the dotted line position of Figure 8.

Sixth, the second operation is reversed to bring the parts of the transfer mechanisms back to the full line position of Figure 8 and to admit fluid to the left end (Figure 3) of cylinders 52 of the walking beam mechanisms so that pins 22 will move to a position to pick up another tile and pins 25 will move the tile carried thereby toward the exit of the chamber 5. While this is taking place the mechanism by which rods 55 are supported will be moved sufficiently to bring another tile out of the firing zone into a position to be picked up by transfer mechanism I1 while a rack 53 is positioned to receive a tile from transfer mechanism I6.

From the above description, it; will be seen that the tiles are moved in closely adjacent streams into and out of the kiln. The preheating and the cooling of the tiles takes place simultaneously and is accomplished by the counterow of the tiles through chamber 5 of the tunnel portion of the kiln. As hot tiles are moved from the firing zone to the inner end of chamber 5, they are spaced closely adjacent to the tiles that are being moved from the outer end of chamber 5 toward the ring Zone. Since the mechanism of the walking beam does not move out of the given portion of the chamber, no heat is lost by the parts of the walking beam being moved from the chamber. Therefore, there is accomplished a highly eflicient preheating and cooling of the tiles with a minimum cost of fuel. As a matter of fact, it has been found that there is no necessity for having any burners in chamber 5, since the hot tiles moving into that chamber from the firing zone carry with them sufficient heat to preheat the tiles moving to the firing zone. The heated parts of the kiln and the mechanism for moving the tiles remain, in all zones, at substantially the same temperature. The mechanism in the rotary portion of the furnace in which the ring of the tiles takes place moves continuously in a circle as the tiles are carried through the ring zone. Thus, there are no bulky cars that absorb large quantities of heat moving into and out of this firing zone. After the zone is brought 9 up to temperature only enough heat to take care of radiation losses and the losses in the tiles themselves is needed. Because of the fact that all of the mechanism of the firing zone remains in that zone, a much closer control of temperature of the tiles may be obtained than is possible with ordinary furnaces. It will therefore, be seen that the kiln of the present invention utilizes most eiliciently the heat that is supplied to it and that none of the heat is lost due to movement of the tile carrying apparatus into and out of the furnace.

In Figures and 11 there is shown another form of the invention in which the tiles are moved through a preheating and cooling zone and through a firing zone. In this case, however, the various zones are in one chamber instead of being divided into two chambers as was previously described. In this case the tiles are moved on a walking beam on one side of the furnace chamber and placed on a turntable mechanism where they are moved through one half revolution before being placed on the outgoing walking beam. The firing zone is formed in one end of the kiln chamber and is provided with a number of burners of the type shown in connection with the form of the invention of Figure 1. As in the previous form of the invention any desired number of burners and arrangement of these burners and their supply manifolds may be used in order to fire the tiles properly.

As shown herein the kiln 90 is provided with a preheating and cooling zone 9| and a firing zone 92 that are in different portions of the kiln chamber. The floor of the kiln chamber is provided with an opening 93 below which the walking beam rod 26 is located and through which extends rods upon which are mounted supporting pins 94 projecting toward the center of the kiln chamber. A5 shown herein each rod has a series of supporting pins extending from it toward the center of the chamber rather than having mounted upon it a support which has a plurality of pins as was shown in Figure 1. There is provided a second opening 95 beneath which the walking beam 21 is located. Extending through the opening 95 are rods 23 which have mounted on them supporting pins 96 that project toward the center oi' the kiln chamber. The walking beams in this form of the invention operate in the same manner as that previously described to move the tiles from the entrance of the kiln through the preheating zone and to the ring zone and from the firing zone back through the cooling zone to the exit. As in the previous case, the heated tiles that are moving out of the furnace serve to heat the tiles moving into the furnace.

The turntable mechanism is located at the end of the furnace and is used to transfer tiles from the walking beam on the lower side to that on the upper side. The operating mechanism for the turntable extends through an opening 99 in the floor of the kiln chamber. As shown herein, the turntable is supported on a shaft I0| that has a member |02 Vmounted on it. Projecting upwardly from the member |02 are a plurality of rods |03 each of which has supporting fingers |04 extending outwardly therefrom and aligned with the fingers I9 of the stationary part of the walking beam mechanism. By reference to Figure 11 of the drawing, it will be seen that shaft |0| is mounted in a base |05 that can move back and forth in a guide way |05. Movement is imparted to the turntable mechanism by means of a piston rod |01 that has a piston |08 on its end which is received in a cylinder |09. As the mechanism is moved to the left in Figure 11 the turntable is rotated through a half revolution and as the mechanism is moved to the right the turntable is not rotated, so that in its final position a tile T mounted upon it will be located, as shown in Figure 10 of the drawing.

Rotation is imparted to the mechanism by means of engagement between a discA I |I that is mounted on shaft |0| and a friction member II! located beside the disc. The friction member ||2 may be moved into and out of engagement with disc I and it is provided with a projection ||3 that serves to stop rotation of the turntable at the left portion of its stroke. Member I|2 is guided in its movement by pins ||4 projecting therefrom into guides IIS, and the member is moved by toggle levers ||6 and ||1 that are joined together in their centers and the latter of which has its outer ends journalled in supports ||8. The center portion of the toggle links are connected by means of a piston rod ||9 that has a piston |2| attached to its end. This piston is received in a cylinder |22.

When a tile has been placed on the lower side of the turntable as shown in Figure 10, fluid will be admitted to the right end of cylinder |09 and to the right end of cylinder |22. This fluid will move piston rod ||9 to the left so that member ||2 is moved downwardly into engagement with disc The fluid in cylinder |09 will move the turntable mechanism to the left and as this movement takes place disc III, rod |0| and the parts mounted thereon will be rotated until the disc engages the stop H3. Fluid will then be admitted to the right end of cylinders |09 and |22. The latter operation moves member ||2 away from disc I|| to the position shown in the drawing and piston |08 in its movement to the right will push the turntable mechanism back to the position shown in the drawing. Shaft |0| is provided with a member |23 that in its final position engages the edge of stop |24 so that the parts of the turntable will be aligned accurately with ngers located in the kiln proper.

The operation of the Walking beams moving the tiles into and out of the kiln is the same in this form of the invention as that in the previously described form. With the various parts in the position shown in Figure 10, and with walking beam 26 in its upper position and walking beam 21 in its lower position the next operation will be to move both of the walking beams in a horizontal direction to the left. This places a tile T on pins 94 over the left side of the turntable and places pins 96 under the tile T on the right side of the turntable. Walking beam 26 will then be lowered to place the tile carried thereby on the turntable fingers |04, and walking beam 21 will be raised to lift the tile from the turntable. The next movement of the walking beams brings them to the right to move tiles on the cooling side toward the exit of the cooling chamber while walking beam 26 is moved to a position so that pins 94 are in position to lift the next set of tiles.

The next operation is to admit fluid to the right end of cylinders |09 and |22 to move the turntable away from the secondary tile supporting racks and rotate it through one-half revolution. Fluid is then admitted to the left end of cylinders 22 and |09 to move member ||2 away from disc and to return the turntable to the position shown in Figure l0. This completes a cycle of operation which is continuously repeated Whilev ll the kiln is in operation. As in .the case of Figure 1, the flow of fluid to the opposite ends of the various cylinders may be controlled ln sequence by means of solenoid valves or in any other desired fashion.

With this form of the invention, as with that of Figure 1, the moving parts of the system stay in substantially the same position in the kiln chamber. Consequently there is no loss of heat due to movement of the tile moving mechanism. Since the entire firing zone is closed and none of the heat therein is carried away by moving parts into and out of this zone the desired temperature can be maintained with a minimum of fuel. As in the form of Figure 1 the preheating of tiles moving to the firing zone is accomplished by the hot tiles moving away from this zone, thus utilizing heat that otherwise would be lost. 'I'he entire arrangement is such that a constant firing temperature may easily be obtained with a minimum of heat loss in the entire system.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims, and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantages without a corresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for firing ceramic ware and the like, a kiln having a first zone for preheating and cooling the ware and a second zone for firing the ware, said rst zone including an elongated chamber having an exit and entrance at one end thereof, supports extending centrally of said chamber and having members thereon extending from each side thereof to support a plurality of layers of ware, a rst walking beam mechanism to move the layers of ware on the members extending from one side of said supports inwardly toward said second zone, a second walking beam mechanism to move the layers of ware on the members extending from the other side of said supports outwardly from said second zone, means to move the layers of ware from members on one side of said supports into said second zone and from said second zone to members on the other side of said supports, and means to supply heat for firing the ware while it is in said second zone.

2. In apparatus for firing ceramic ware and the like, a kiln having an elongated preheating and cooling chamber and a separate circular firing chamber, supporting and moving means in said first mentioned chamber to move ware to said firing chamber and from said ring chamber in side by side and heat transfer relation, means to move said ware through said circular chamber from a point adjacent one side of said first chamber to a point adjacent the other side of said first chamber, means to transfer ware from said first chamber to the said rst point in said second chamber and means to transfer ware from said second chamber at said second point after it has been fired to said first chamber.

3. Apparatus for firing ceramic ware and the like, including a kiln having a rst elongated chamber and a second circular chamber, supports in said rst chamber for a stream of ware moving inwardly toward said second chamber and a stream of ware moving outwardly from said second chamber, said streams of ware being closely adjacent each other in heat exchange relation,

12 means to move the stream of ware inwardly along said supports, means to transfer the Ware from said first chamber to said second chamber, means to move the ware through said second chamber, means to transfer the ware from said second chamber to the stream of ware moving outwardly along said supports, means to move the stream of ware outwardly along said supports, and means Y to fire the ware in said second chamber, the ware that has been fired loosing its heat to the ware to be fired to thereby preheat the same.

4. In apparatus for ring ceramic ware and the like, a first elongated chamber forming a preheating and cooling zone, a second chamber forming a firing zone, supports extending centrally of said first chamber to support two streams of ware, means to move one stream of ware to be fired inwardly along said supports, means to move the other stream of ware outwardly along said supports after it has been fired, said streams being in heat transfer relation whereby the heat from the red ware may preheat the unflred ware, means to transfer the ware from said first .stream to said second chamber and from said second chamber to said second stream, and means to move the ware through said second chamber from and to said transfer means.

5. In apparatus for ring ceramic ware and the like, a kiln having a first elongated chamber forming a preheating and cooling zone and a second chamber forming a firing zone, supporting and moving means located in given portions of said first chamber for supporting and moving ware through said rst chamber into and out of said second chamber whereby said supporting and moving means will remain at the same temperature as the portion of said rst chamber in which they are located, separate means remaining at all times in said second chamber to move ware through said second chamber, and means located between said chambers to transfer ware from said first chamber to said second chamber and back again.

6. In apparatus for firing ceramic ware and the like, a kiln having an elongated chamber and a circular chamber provided with an opening adjacent an end of said elongated chamber, means to move a stream of ware in one direction through said elongated chamber to the end thereof adnjacent a first point in said opening, means to move a stream of ware from the end of said elongated chamber'adjacent a second point in said opening and through said elongated chamber, means to move a stream of Ware in said circular chamber from said rst point through said chamber to said second point, means to transfer ware from said elongated chamber to said circular chamber at said first point, means to transfer ware from said second point to said elongated chamber whereby a continuous stream of ware passes in through said elongated chamber, through said circular chamber and out through said elongated chamber, and means to re the ware in said circular chamber, the hot ware passing from said circular chamber to said elongated chamber serving to preheat the ware coming into said circular chamber.

'7. In apparatus for firing ceramic ware and the like, a kiln having an elongated chamber being open at one end and closed at the other, said chamber having a firing zone at the closed end and a preheating and cooling zone at the open end, means to support two streams of ware in side by side relation and extending from the open end of the chamber to the closed end thereof, a pair of oppositely acting walking beam mechanisms cooperating with said means to support to move one stream of ware inwardly in said chamber and to move the other stream of ware outwardly therefrom, and means located adjacent the closed end of, said chamber to transfer ware from one Awalking beam mechanism to the other whereby ware may be moved into and out of said chamber to be successively preheated, fired and cooled.

8. In apparatus for ring ceramic ware and the like, a kiln having an elongated chamber in which there is located a first cooling and preheating zone and a second firing zone, the end of said chamber containing said ring zone being closed, the other end being open, first supports for ware to be fired, second supports for ware that has been fired, said first and second supports being located in said rst zone and extending from the open end of said chamber to adjacent the closed end thereof, means to move a stream of ware to be fired along said first supports from the open end of said chamber to adjacent the closed end thereof, means located adjacent the closed end of said chamber to shift the ware from the first supports for ware to be ilred to the second supports for ware that has been fired, and means to move the ware along said last mentioned supports to the open end of said chamber.

9. Apparatus for firing ceramic material and the like comprising a kiln having a plurality of zones including a circular firing zone and an elongated preheating and cooling zone, stationary supports in said preheating and cooling zone, supports in said firing zone, means to move pieces to be fired along said stationary supports and onto the supports in the firing zone, means to move the supports in the firing zone through said zone, and means to move pieces that have been fired from the supports in the firing zone along the stationary supports away from the firing zone, said moving means being so positioned relative to each other that the pieces going to the firing zone move adjacent to the pieces moving away from the firing mne.

10. Apparatus for firing ceramic material and the like comprising a kiln having an elongated preheating and cooling zone and a firing zone, a plurality of stationary supports located in said preheating and cooling zone, each `support being operative to hold a plurality of vertically displaced layers of work pieces, a plurality of supports located in said firing zone, each support being operative to hold the same number of layers of work pieces as those on the first-mentioned 4 supports, means to move work pieces along the supports in the preheating and cooling zone toward the firing zone, means to transfer work pieces from the first-mentioned supports to those in the firing zone, means to move the supports in the firing zone to move the work pieces through said zone. means to transfer work pieces from the supports in the firing zone to said firstmentioned supports, and means to move Work pieces along the supports in the preheating and cooling zone away from the firing zone, said moving means and transfer means operating synchronously whereby the plurality of layers of work pieces are moving substantially continuously through said kiln.

EMIL BLAHA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 44 Adams Aug. 6, 1842 505,418 Clabby Sept. 19, 1893 1,400,367 McCann Dec- 13, 1921 1,407,192 De Steigner Feb. 21, 1922 1,425,499 Lewis Aug. 8, 1922 1,620,017 Haibach et al. Mar. 8, 1927 1,889,928 Manion Dec. 6, 1932 1,889,955 Dutton Dec. 6, 1932 2,043,969 Kutchera June 9, 1936 2,076,739 Menough Apr. 13, 1937 2,320,172 Brooke et al. May 25, 1943 

